The Legal Outlook
December 2013 | Volume 5 | Issue 12
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Consumer News:
RECALL REPORT
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Twoinfantdeathshave
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855‐355‐2673
MissedDiagnosisLeadstoParalysis,DeathofFormerSEPTAPoliceOf icer
AbingtonMemorialHospital,RadiologyGroupofAbington,P.C.,alongwithtreating
physiciansandtheirrelatedprofessionalmedicalassociationshavebeennamedina
medicalmalpracticeaction iledintheMontgomeryCountyCourtofCommonPleas
byJosephL.Messa,Jr.andJenimaeAlmquistofMessa&Associates,P.C.Thesuitis
concerningtheparalysisandultimatedeathofaformerSEPTAtransitpoliceof icer,
CraigPrice,afterhisspinalcordinjurywentundiagnosedfollowinghisadmissionto
AbingtonMemorialHospital.AradiologistatAbington,despitereviewingMr.Price’s
CTscan,didnotrecognizeanobviousabnormalityshownonthecervicalCTimage
andmisreadthe ilms;andMr.Pricewassenthomeonlytoreturnsevendayslateras
aquadriplegic.
"Thisisayetanotherexampleofaprofessionalmissingadiagnosis,andthehospital
rushingtodischargethepatientwithoutprovidingtheadditionalcarethatisrequired,"saidAttorneyJosephL.Messa,Jr.today."Thatcriticalmistakeandthefailure
ofanyoneelsetorecognizethatamistakehadbeenmadedelayedMr.Price’smedical
treatmentanadditionalweek.Unfortunately,bythetimetheinjurywasproperly
diagnosed,Mr.Price’smedicalconditionhadalreadyseverelyworsenedandhisprognosiswasgrim."
OnOctober15,2012,Mr.PricewasadmittedtoAbingtonMemorialHospitalwherehe
underwentaCTofthecervicalspine.Followingthescan,theimageswerereadbya
radiologistwhoincorrectlyreportedthattherewere“nofracturesorsuspiciousbony
lesions”andthatMr.Pricehadsuffered“notraumaticinjury.”Mr.PricewasdischargedfromAbingtononOctober17,2012.Oneweeklater,onOctober24,2012,
Mr.Pricebeganexperiencingweaknessinhislegsand,unabletomove,wastaken
backtoAbington.Laterthatevening,hewasemergentlytransportedtoThomasJeffersonUniversityHospitalinPhiladelphia.
Mr.PriceunderwentmultiplespinalsurgeriesatJefferson,andwasrenderedaquadriplegicfollowingthesurgeriesduetoaspinalcordinjurythatwaspresentbutnot
treatedduringhisadmissiontoAbington.Duetohisinjuriesandsubsequentcare,
Mr.Pricebecamedependentonaventilatorandwaslaterdischargedtoarehabfacility.
Ashisconditionworsened,hespentadditionaltimeatJeffersonandwaslatersent
backtotherehabfacility.Mr.PricepassedawayonJanuary18,2013,justthree
monthsafterhisinitialvisittoAbingtonMemorialHospitalwherehisspinalcordinjuryshouldhavebeendiagnosedandproperlytreated.
"TheparalysisanddeathofMr.Pricewasadirectresultofrecklessandnegligentcare
providedtohimbyAbingtonMemorialHospital,RadiologyGroupofAbington,P.C.,
andtheotherphysicianswhowereresponsibleforhismedicalcare,"saidAttorney
Messainclosing."Mr.Price’sfamilydeservestoseethatthepartiesresponsiblefor
failingtoprovidethatcarearejustlyheldaccountableforhisdeath."
“
T
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON .
MEET THE
ATTORNEYS
W.A.T.C.H. Issues 2013 Dangerous Toys List
WorldAgainstToysCausingHarm
Inc.(WATCH)hasissueditsannual
listofthetenmostdangeroustoys.
P
A. Chris ne Giordano 
Q:Whatisyourfavoritecocktail? A:PomegranateMartini. Q:Youwereanursebefore.What
madeyoudecidetogolawschool? A:Iworkedinnursingadministrationas
thepatientcaremanagerofacoronary
careunitforseveralyearsandhadvery
closecontactwithriskmanagementand
hospitalattorneys.Thatiswhatpeaked
myinterest.IbelievedthatbycombiningnursingandlawIcouldhaveanimpactonthequalityofpatientcare. Q:Whatisyourpreferred“lazy‐day”
activity? A:Spendingadayonthebeachwitha
goodbook. Q:Describeyourselfinthreewords: A:Loyal,Effective,Driven Q:Whatisyourproudestmomentas
anattorney? A:Obtainingafavorablerecvoveryfora
2year-oldboywholostpartofhisfoot
asaresultofafailuretodiagnosecancer,therebyallowinghimtoobtain
prostheticsheneededtohaveanormal
childhood. Q:Whatexoticpetwouldyouwant
toadopt? A:Aparrot. Q:Whatisthebestpartofyourjob? A:Makingadifferenceinpeople’slives. Q:Ifyoucouldtakeyourfamilyona
monthlongvacation,wherewould
yougo? A:Italy. 



H
2013
ArmyForceAutomaticRi le
byChuangfaToysFactory
Hazard:Realistictoyweaponry


Boomerang“Throw&Catch”
byKoleImports
Hazard:Potentialforimpactinjuries
DisneyBabySnowWhite
byTollytotsLimited
Hazard:Potentialforchoking
injuries
BigRockandRollBallPit  N‐StrikeJoltBlaster
byTheLittleTikesCompany
byHasbro
Hazard:Potentialimpactinjuries
Hazard:Potentialforeyeinjuries
MaxSteelInteractiveSteel
 TheSpooner‐Freestyle
withTurboSwordbySpooner,Inc.
byMattel Hazard:Potentialforheador
Hazard:Potentialimpactinjuries
otherimpactinjuries
DisneyPrincessBackpack
 LittleDrummer
FishingKit
byHapeToys
byDisney;PureFishing,asubsidiHazard:Potentialforingestion
aryofJardenCorporation andchokinghazards
Hazard:Potentialforchemical
ingestioninjuries
BlackWidowFoldingSlingshot
byBarnettOutdoors,LLC
Hazard:Potentialforserious
injuries
Flavor of the Month
Month::
HolidaySafety
Theholidayseasonisatimeforgiving,spendingtimewithlovedones,andcreating
specialmemories.However,thenseasonalsoincreasestheriskof ires,falls,and
burninjuries.
AccordingtoareportissuedlastmonthbytheNationalFireProtectionAssociation,
Christmastreesaretheleadingcauseofholidaytime ires.Of icialsestimatethat
homeChristmastree irescausedanaverageofsixciviliandeathsand22civilian
injuries,eachyearfrom2007-2011.Researcherssaytheriskof ireishigherwith
naturaltreesthanarti icialones.Theyrecommendkeepingnaturaltreesmoistso
thattheydonoteasilyburnasadrytreewould.
Electricalfailuresormalfunctionswerealsofoundtobealeading
causeofhomeChristmastreestructure ires.Insomecases,a ire
occurredbecausesometypeofheatsourcewastooclosetothetree.
Inapproximately12percentofthecases,decorativelightswereinvolvedintheseincidents.Asmallerportionofthe ireswerecaused
bycandles.From2007-2011,nineciviliandeathsand16civilianinjuriesperyearwereattributedto iresinvolvingholidayordecorative
lightswithlinevoltage.Remembertousecautionthisholidaysea-
BREAKING IT DOWN
P
II.S
W
! waytostayconnected,itisalsoatreasure
Afteramotorvehicleaccident,itisnotunu- troveforopposinglawyerswhoaretryingto
minimizeyourlegalclaims.DoNOTtalk
sualforeachdrivertohaveadifferent
“version”ofwhatoccurred.Attrial,ajuryis aboutyouraccidentonFACEBOOK.DoNOT
discussyourinjuriesormedicaltreatment
askedtodeterminewhichpartyisbeing
either.Keepthesethingsprivateandplease
truthful.Withoutanimpartialwitnesssuprememberthateverythingthatyoupost
portingyou,youwillbeatthemercyofa
Theaftermathofanaccidentisverychaotic
“credibilitydetermination”andthismaynot onlinecanbeusedagainstyou.
andstressful.Manypeopleareinshockfolgowellevenifyouaretellingthetruth.
V.H !
lowingacollision.However,itisusuallyonly
However,witnesssupportprovidesthecritiminutesbeforepoliceandrescuepersonnel callyimportanttie-breaker.Don’trushaway Ok,Imeanme.But,regardlessofwhoyou
hire,pleaserealizethat,followinganacciarriveandbegintoinvestigatetheaccident
fromtheaccidentscene.Takethetimeto
dent,insurancecompaniesmayofferyou
andyourinjuries.ThisisNOTthetimeto
indsomeonewhomayhavewitnessedwhat
“quick”money.Theymayevenapologizeto
irstconsiderhowtoprotectyourlegalinhappened.Obtaintheircompletecontact
youandactnice.Donotbefooled!Insurance
terests.Aswithmostunforeseenevents,itis
informationandkeepitinasafeplace.Tell
companiesexisttomakethemselvesmoney.
extremelyimportanttoplanahead.Taking
thepoliceof icerifthereiswitnesswhosupTheydonothaveyourbestinterestsinmind
thefollowingFIVEstepscangreatlyimprove
portsyou.
andonlyseektopayyouaslittleaspossible.
yourchancesofsuccessinanylegalclaims
TheyhavelawyersreadytosupporttheperIII.T
!
youmaybringduetoanaccident
Inmomentsofchaos,weallsaythingsthat sonwhocausedyouraccident.Don’tyou
I.T
P
E
!
seemsillytouslater.Afteranaccident,you needsomeoneonyourside?
Inacourtroom,aphotographisworthmore
willbeinterviewedbypolice,rescuepersonEveryoneatMessa&Associatestrulyhopes
thanathousandwords.Picturesarenotbinelandphysiciansandnurses.Youwillbe
thatyouwillneverneedthisadvice.But,if
asedandcan’tbecross-examined.Afteran
askedwhathappenedintheaccidentand
theunexpecteddoeshappen,takeaminute,
accident,youshoulddocumenteverything
whetheryouareinjured.Theseinitialquescollectyourselfandrememberthatyoudo
thatcouldhelpyourcause.Thinklikean
tionsafteranaccidentreallymatter!Everyhaveaplan.Usethesesuggestions.Theyjust
accidentinvestigator.Takephotosofwhere
thingyousayismemorializedforeverin
mightmakethedifferencebetweenwinning
thevehiclescametorest;capturestreet
recordsandwillbeusedagainstyoulaterin
andlosingyourpersonalinjurycase.
signsforlandmarks,photographskidmarks
thecourtroom.Insteadofsaying,“Iamnot
todemonstratestoppingdistancesand,most
hurt”totheinvestigatingpoliceof icer,itis Haveasafe,healthyandhappyholidayseaimportantly,fullydocumentanysigni icant
farbettertosay“IamnotsureifIamhurt
son.
propertydamagetothevehiclesinvolved.
becauseIamshakenup”.Shockcanmask
Themostvaluablepieceofevidencein
painfollowinganaccident.Chooseyour
anymotorvehiclecaseisthevehicle
wordscarefully.Also,nevergiveastatement
damagephoto.Photographsshowingreal
totheopposinginsurancecompany.
LeeD.Rosenfeldisanexperienced
damagestronglysuggestmoresevere
motorvehicleandpersonalinjury
S
T
FACEBOOK!
injuries.Ifthereisrealdamage,takethe IV.S
Oursocietyhasfullyshiftedintothesocial attorney,representingclientsin
picture.
mediaage.ManyofusviewFACEBOOKasan Pennsylvania,andNewJersey.
opportunitytoshareourliveswithfamily
andfriends.Whilepostingisfunandagreat
Nearlyallofusaredestinedtobeinsome
sortofmotorvehicleaccidentduringour
lives.Whileweallhopethatitwillbeminor,
theunfortunaterealityisthatmajorcollisionsoccureverydayandoftenresultin
seriousinjuriesandpropertydamage.
Settlements and Verdicts
TopamaxMassTortLitigation
TwoPhiladelphiajurieshaveawardedverdictstoplaintiffsagainstJanssenPharmaceuticalsforbirthdefectscausedbythe
drugTopamax.JanssenPharmaceuticalsisaunitofpharmaceuticalgiant,Johnson&Johnson.Accordingtoattorneys,
Janssenknewthatthedrugcouldcausebirthdefectsforseveralyearsbeforetheywarnedthepublicofthedrug’srisk.
$4.02millionverdictforAprilCzimmer,aVirginiaresident,whosesonunderwentfoursurgeriesafterbirthtocorrecthis
cleftlip.CzimmerwastakingTopamaxwhenshebecamepregnant.
$10.9millionverdictforHaleyPowell,aSouthCarolinawomanwhousedTopamaxfromaboutMarch2006toaboutMay
2011includingduringherpregnancy.Powell’sson,BraydenGurley,wasbornwithacleftlipin2008.
Theverdictsarethe irsttwoofmorethan130cases iledagainstJanssenPharmaceuticalsinthePhiladelphiaCourtofCommonPleas.TwomorecasesarescheduledfortrialinFebruaryandMarch.Messa&Associatesattorney,EricH.Weitz,iscocounselinthemasstortcases.
AROUND THE OFFICE
Messa&Associatesfounder,JosephL.
NewassociateMeganM.Kwakrecently
Messa,Jr,hasbeenvotedanAwesome
attendedaContinuingLegalEducation
Attorneyforthefourthconsecutive
eventattheWanamakerbuildingin
yearandwasfeaturedinDecember
PhiladelphiaentitledBridgetheGap,a
issuesofbothSuburbanLifeandcourseforallnewattorneysregarding
PhiladelphiaLifeMagazines.professionalresponsibility.
CongratulationsJoe!
M
L
InternetMarketingCoordinator
AngelaLeoneiscurrentlystarringas
“Mrs.Fezziwig/Mrs.Dilber”in
TheWalnutStreetTheatre’sannual
productionofCharlesDickens’
AChristmasCarol.Theshowruns
throughDecember22nd.Fortickets,
visitwww.walnutstreettheatre.org.
P
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H 2091SpringdaleRd.
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CherryHill,NJ08003
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|aleone@messalaw.com
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6000-6002GermantownAve
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